For Immediate Release "Put Country Before Party"

Common Cause joined other advocacy organizations on Wednesday in calling on Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans to reverse their decision to block any consideration of President Obama’s nominee to replace the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.

“The letter from all 11 Republican senators on the Judiciary Committee to Sen. McConnell calling for maximum obstruction – not even providing the courtesy of a hearing to a Supreme Court nominee - was an outrageous pledge to desert their constitutional duty,” said Stephen Spaulding, Common Cause’s senior policy counsel and legal director.

“Keeping a vacancy empty on the highest court in the land for nearly two full court terms is unprecedented, extraordinarily reckless, and shows a blatant disrespect of the rule of law, the third branch of government and the American people,” Spaulding added.

“We call on the Senate Republicans to reconsider their position and provide the courtesy of fair consideration to whomever is nominated, and put country before party.”

Spaulding’s remarks came at a Capitol Hill news conference at midday. Later on Wednesday, a coalition including Common Cause, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Color of Change, MoveOn.org Civic Action, Every Voice, Daily Kos, Demand Progress, People For the American Way, CREDO Action, UltraViolet Action, NextGen Climate, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) delivered more than 1.3 million petition signatures to senators, urging quick action when Obama submits a nominee.

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Common Cause is a nonpartisan grassroots organization dedicated to upholding the core values of American democracy. We work to create open, honest, and accountable government that serves the public interest; promote equal rights, opportunity, and representation for all; and empower all people to make their voices heard in the political process.